Smallville Has 3 Perfect Ways Of Continuing Superman’s Story 13 Years After The DC Show Ended

There are three possible scenarios for Smallville to come back after more than a decade, and Tom Welling could finally get to play Superman after mostly appearing as Clark Kent in the popular DC prequel series. Welling delivered a charming and earnest performance as Clark throughout all of Smallville‘s ten seasons, with the series following Clark from high school to joining the Daily Planet as a reporter to falling in love with Lois Lane to finally becoming Superman. While Smallville did a great job of making Clark’s journey into becoming the Man of Steel compelling, Welling finally playing Superman was missed.

Clark only got to don the Superman suit in Smallville‘s series finale, with the look being CGI, as Welling never actually wore the Superman costume aside from its upper body part for Smallville‘s final shot. Fans were notably upset about that development, even though the series was always about Clark becoming Superman, not his exploits as the Man of Steel. Thirteen years after the end of the series, Welling could show off Smallville Superman’s incredible powers, as there are now a few ways for the show to be continued.

A Smallville Animated Series Is Waiting For The Right Time

A New Update On The Project Has Finally Been Shared

Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum previously revealed that they were trying to make a Smallville animated sequel series happen, with the show intending to pick up after the original series’ finale and include the main cast back to voice their characters. Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar would also return for the animated series. After the last update on the project came through Welling in 2022, fans had been left questioning if the Smallville animated series had been dropped or if Welling and Rosenbaum were still pushing to get it greenlit. The project’s status has now been revealed.

Speaking to Screen Rant, Rosenbaum updated the status of the Smallville animated series. According to the actor, the project will be pitched to Warner Bros. Discovery “when it’s the right time,” which the Lex Luthor actor claims is not right now due to the Hollywood strikes’ impact and the internal changes at DC — though Rosenbaum thinks it is a “no-brainer.” The actor also reiterated that Smallville actors would return to voice their characters and that they “have a concept of what the show is.”

Tom Welling And Michael Rosenbaum Are Open To A Smallville Movie

A Smallville Live-Action Return Could Happen

While the planned Smallville animated series is the best possible prospect for a return of the popular show, it is not the only way the Superman series could come back. A Smallville return in live-action is another possibility. The Lex Luthor actor also told Screen Rant that a change in mediums could happen if Smallville were to be continued, as Rosenbaum and Welling would be open to return for a Smallville movie. Rosenbaum revealed that both he and Welling would be game to get in shape for their roles if Smallville creators Gough and Millar came back for a movie.

Rosenbaum said they both would be open for a movie that served as the “real finale” for Smallville “if it was right.” Keeping in line with the spirit of the original show, Rosenbaum claimed that while he and Welling would consider returning as Clark Kent and Lex Luthor in live-action for a movie, it would have to be grounded. A Smallville live-action film is an interesting idea, as it could allow Welling to finally suit up as Superman and deliver what fans wanted from the show’s series finale, though it would be harder to pull off than an animated series.

A DCU Multiverse Event Could Include Smallville’s Key Characters

The Easiest Solution To A Smallville Continuation

Smallville could also make a return indirectly. Instead of having Welling and Rosenbaum reprise their iconic DC roles in a sequel, the stars could appear in James Gunn’s DC Universe for a multiverse event, and there is already a precedent for that. Years after Smallville ended in 2011, Welling and Erica Durance came back as their versions of Clark Kent and Lois Lane from the show for the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, though Rosenbaum refused to come back as Lex Luthor.

With the multiverse now a popular element in superhero movies and series, the new DC Universe could have a multiversal event down the line. Given how Welling has already returned for such a project and Rosenbaum is close friends with James Gunn, the duo could very much return as Smallville‘s Clark Kent and Lex Luthor that way. As two of the most popular live-action DC characters, Smallville‘s Superman and Lex Luthor are top candidates for any future DCU multiverse events.